Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Convey the Relevance of IT Activities
None of the seven convey the relevance of IT activities emerged as critical in the Small
IT Unit CIO profile. Perhaps the relative size of the agency does not make educating agency
constituents as to the potential value of IT a critical activity. In contrast, four convey the
relevance of IT activities emerged critical in the Large IT Unit CIO profile:
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Promote IT as an agency of agency transformation
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Disseminate information about the results of recently completed IT projects
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Stress the economic value of IT to senior managers
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Disseminate information about the benefits and costs of IT-based change
The first conveys the relevance of IT activity that emerged as critical in the Large IT
Unit CIO profile, “promoting IT as an agent of agency transformation,” relates to providing
intangible support for IT initiatives. This is the only activity of this type that emerged as
critical in the Large IT Unit CIO profile. The remaining three critical activities relate to
providing tangible support for IT initiatives.
Conventional wisdom tells us that the larger the agency within which IT projects are
pursued, the greater the potential costs, organizational impact, number of stakeholders, and
the higher the project's profile. Such activities are probably not deemed critical for Small IT
Unit CIOs, because the stakes are just not as high for them.
These data suggest that CIOs who operate within large agencies are more inclined to
attempt to educate constituents by producing tangible support for IT initiatives. The
willingness or reluctance of constituents to lend their support to the CIO in the future
probably hinges, in part, on the Large IT Unit CIO's ability to perform such activities
effectively.
Manage Critical Relationships Activities
Three of the 10 manage critical relationships activities emerged as critical in both the
Small IT Unit CIO profile and the Large IT Unit CIO profile:
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Activity participate in top-management decision making
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Speak the language of managers from other program areas
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Explain to users that their feedback is critical to expanding the benefits of their systems
The first two approach the management of critical relationships through direct interac-
tion with managers, outside the IT unit environment. The third involves solicitation of end-
user feelings as to how their information systems (IS) can be made more effective, while
instilling in them a sense of ownership over their IS and empowerment in how their IS evolves.
These data indicate that interactions with program management in their areas of
expertise and empowering end users by encouraging their input for the enhancement of their
systems are critical activities related to managing relationships, regardless of the size of the
IT unit that the CIO manages.
One additional manage critical relationships activity emerged as critical in the Large IT
Unit CIO profile that is absent from the Small IT Unit profile:
•
Stay abreast of developments in the program areas of other managers
